This Leap Motion Shooter is Inspired by Dreamcast Classic ‘Rez’

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Motion sensing peripheral specialists Leap Motion’s second development event ‘3D Jam’ has had over 180 submissions for projects that fuse the Leap’s input capabilities with virtual reality. This entry ‘VRez’, inspired by classic Dreamcast shooter Rez, caught our eye as a nicely intuitive application of modern input techniques to a traditional gameplay mechanic.

VRez is the product of a Boyfriend/Girlfriend partnership who used the cult classic title Rez, originally released for the ill-fated Sega Dreamcast games console, as inspiration for their project. Rez was a highly original title which fused familiar lock-on shooting gameplay embedded against a highly integral musical backdrop.

The mechanics in VRez are simple, you wave your hand over objects you wish to target, initiating a lock-on, then make a fist to release a salvo to destroy them. An elegant approach which may only be marred by arm strain after a few minutes play perhaps.

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The original Sega Dreamcast incarnation of ‘Rez’

The Leap Motion 3D Jam has now closed its doors to new developer submissions, but voting is now open for the public to select their favourite entries until December 22nd. You can take a look at all the 3D Jam entries here, and you can vote for VRez right here.

3D Jam entrants are competing for a piece of $75,000 worth of cash prizes. The final set of winners will be announced in January 2016. Along with the top-tier prizes, there are three $500 Community Choice prizes – two in the AR/VR track, and one in the Open track.

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Based in the UK, Paul has been immersed in interactive entertainment for the best part of 27 years and has followed advances in gaming with a passionate fervour. His obsession with graphical fidelity over the years has had him branded a ‘graphics whore’ (which he views as the highest compliment) more than once and he holds a particular candle for the dream of the ultimate immersive gaming experience. Having followed and been disappointed by the original VR explosion of the 90s, he then founded RiftVR.com to follow the new and exciting prospect of the rebirth of VR in products like the Oculus Rift. Paul joined forces with Ben to help build the new Road to VR in preparation for what he sees as VR’s coming of age over the next few years.